Seal terminal



Oct. 19 1948. M. SKOBEL SEAL TERMINAL Filed July 14 1945 FIG. 1.

INVENTOR.

M AX SKOB EL BY v WA... Q

FIG. 3.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1948 SEAL TERMINAL Max Skobel, Eatontown, N.J., assignor to the United States of America as represented by theSecretary of War Application July 14, 1945, Serial No. 005,171

3 Claims. (01. 114-151) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, asamended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmentalpurposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to electrical terminals, and more particularly tothose suitable for installment on transformers and other electricalequipment.

In a particular form of terminal arrangement used for transformers inthe prior art, the terminals consisted of straight rods imbedded inglass for insulating same, that passed through holes in a plate formingthe top of the transformer case, with the glass welded to the rods andplate. The disadvantage of this arrangement was that it increased thecost of production to make same, was relatively slow, and wassubject tobreakage.

In the present invention, it is an object to provide a new and improvedterminal arrangement that will avoid one or more of the disadvantagesand limitations of the prior art.

An additional object of this invention is to pro= vide a new andimproved terminal arrangement which can be assembled expeditiously,effective in use, and capable of withstanding considerable roughtreatment without serious inju y. and, also, economical to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedterminal arrangement for enclosed electrical equipment that can beassembled or disassembled readily, and at the same time prove anefiective device in use.

In a particular form of the invention, a terminal assembly comprises aplate adapted to engage a predetermined article arranged for electricalequipment on one side and for connecting a conductor or conductors onthe opposite side. The plate has a passage or passages therethrcugh ofpredetermined size, with the material about the passage or passages ofresilient nature, so as to hold same resiliently therein, when in placeand projecting on either side for electrical attaclnnent to saidconductors and equipment. It can be appreciated that the passages can bearranged parallel and spaced from each other, and with a single orplural terminal members that can be inserted through the passages. Theplate may also be made entirely of insulating resilient material, sothat where the terminal members pro- .iect therethrough they will beheld securely and insulatingly.

For a better understanding of the present in vention, together withother and further objects thereof, reference is had to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying the assembly shownin Fig. l in separated form before assembly, and

Figure 3 is a sectional detail of the plate assembly.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thedrawing.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein a particular form of anelectrical terminal assembly is shown, by way of example. It consists ofa mounting plate ill of circular disc-like form, but relatively thick togive a certain amount of rigidity to the resilient insulating orrubber-like material of which it is composed. in Fig. l, passages orrestricted diameter are provided in raised taper ing funnels or sleevesi2 extending perpendicularly above and below the upper and lowersurfaces at the plate and integral therewith. These tunnels arecircularly arranged on the plate and spaced equably from each other, asufficient amount to provide proper electrical spacing in between theterminal members l3 that are in them. These members 3 are preferablyarranged with enlarged, and flattened eyelet end portions or lugs it,formed from wire rods it which are or normal diameter for the remainingmiddle portion of the members. The members are forced into the passagesin the resilient material which is expanded thereby as the eyelets passthrough, and when through. flexes back to normal size to bind againstthe middle portions thereof, holding,- them securely in position andmaking the joint watertight and fieidble. The transformer it or otherequipment used has its terminal leads l8 electrically connected to thelower eyelets o'r lugs it of the members it. it is then placed in acontainer casing i E of thin metal having its open upper portion i'lflared and cupped to take the plate iii. The cupped portion isafterwards bent or crimped over to secure the plate firmly therein tothe casing, as well as keep the transformer underneath. Slots 20 areprovided in the wall of the cupped portion of the casing. Flanges IQ ofthe upper reinforcing plate 23 project peripherally out from theseslots. These flanges have screw holes 22 therethrough for screws to passthrough to secure the unit to a panel or other structure. Holes 24 arepunched through this plate 23 with ridges or projecting rims'25 formedon the upper surface, as indicated. A lower reinforcing plate 26 isprovided under the insulating plate ill, but has no projecting flanges.It is punched like the upper plate 23, with similar holes 24 and ridges25. The projecting rims serve to lock the sleeves [2 in place andstiffen them.

The terminal assembly illustrated can be made compact as the amount ofspace required by the sleeves is less than that required by an externallining of glass,'ceramics or rigid plastic materials, to provide thenecessary insulation between the terminals and a metal mounting plate.At

1 the same time, the terminal members can be removed or replaced readilyat any time without afiecting the working features of the device. Nodimculties in production or assembly are involved in the use of thisinvention, because such assembly can be done cold, and manually orequivalently by machine. In the case of glass, heat at a hightemperature is involved, which increases the cost and lowers theproduction rate, and requires heat-resisting materials in its make-up.

This, the invention avoids. In addition, the terminals in the inventioncan be given fairly rough treatment without injury. as they are heldflexibly. This feature of flexibility enables the leads from thetransformer or network to connect at slight angles and, in case ofnecessity, bend same a little. Such action would not be feasible withglass insulation arrangements. Any vibration occurring in the equipmentis taken up by the rubber-like material used in this invention, andlessens the possibility of deficiency. in operation through a greaterperiod of time, and keeps maintenance costs down. Other incidentaladvantages are provided by the invention that add to its value andutility.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be apreferred embodiment of thisinvention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and further modifications may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or theprinciples thereof. It is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal assembly comprising in combination, .a pre-formed mountingplate of flexible insulating material with projecting funnel-likesleeves integrally attached thereto having longitudinally disposedpassages of restricted diam eter therethrough, a plurality ofreinforcing rigid plates disposed above and below said mounting platewith holes therein aligned with said sleeves to permit the latter toproject therethrough and having raised ridges around the edges of theholes said ridges being shaped to apply compression to the bases of saidsleeves, terminal rods having lugs on the ends thereof for insertionthrough said restricted passages by expanding said passages as the lugspass therethrough, the diameter of said rods being larger thanthediameter of said passages whereby after insertion the rods will beheld securely and resiliently within said restricted passages and thelugs projected above and below said plates beyond said sleeves.

2. A terminal assembly comprising in combination, a pre-formed mountingplate of insulating material with projecting funnel-like sleevesintegrally attached thereto having passages of restricted diametertherethrough, a rigid plate disposed against said mounting plate withholes therein aligned with said sleeves to permit the latter to projecttherethrough and arranged around the holes to compress the bases'of saidsleeves, terminal rods having lugs on the ends thereof for insertionthrough said restricted passages by expanding said passages as the rodspass therethrough, the diameter of said rods being larger than thediameter of said passage, whereby after insertion the rods will be heldsecurely and resiliently within said restricted passages and the lugsprojected beyond the sleeves.

3. A terminal assembly comprising in combination, a'pre-formed mountingplate of semi-flexible insulating material of disc-like form with spacedprojecting funnel-like sleeves integrally attached thereto havinglongitudinally disposed passages of restricted diameter therethrough, aplurality of reinforcing metal rigid plates of similar form to themounting plate disposed above and below against said mounting plate withholes therein aligned with said sleeves to permit the latter to projecttherethrough and having raised ridges around the upper edges of theholes to compress the bases of said sleeves after placement andresiliently expanding in place, one of said reinforcing plates having afastener flange thereon for securing it extraneously, plural terminalrods having lugs on the ends thereof for insertion through saidrestricted passages by expanding said passages as the lugs and rods passtherethrough, the diameter of said rods being greater than the diameterof said passages, whereby after insertion the rods will be held securelyand resiliently within said restricted passages and the lugs projectedabove and below said plates beyond said sleeves.

- MAX SKOBEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

